Loom shuttle structure



w. HAM PSON 2,042,307

LOOM SHUTTLE STRUCTURE May 26, 1936.

Filed April 13, .1934

IIII'IIWHWWIJIWIIIInummmnnmmummmmug by La 5 1 Patented May 26, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE LooM SHUTTLE STRUCTURE Application April13, 1934, Serial No. 720,412

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved loom shuttle structure, and moreparticularly to a tension means therefor which is adapted to provide auniform tension upon the thread and prevent inequalities in the wovenfabric due either toexcessive slackness or undue tension on the thread.

In the formation of woven fabrics, and more particularly those formedfrom silk, rayon or other fine threads, the tension devices now in usefail to apply a constantly uniform tension to the thread with the resultthat the thread is f requently drawn from the bobbin, or other carrier,more rapidly than it is laid into the formed fabric. This 7 results inthe overrunning of the thread from the carrier and the formation ofloops in the fabric material. If the tension is increased to overcomethis difiiculty, there is a tendency to apply excessive tension atintervals, causing the thread to be stretched unduly as it is laid inthe fabric and produce spots known as shiners. In the use of the usualtensioning mechanisms now employed such undue slackness and tenseness ofthe thread may occur with considerable frequency causing more or lessserious imperfections in the woven material.

One object of the present invention is to provide a tension means whichwill reduce largely or eliminate entirely both excessive slackness andundue tenseness of the thread as it enters the weave, thus overcomingthe production of such defects as those above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an auxiliary tensionmeans adapted for 7 use in connection with any one of a variety oftake-up tension mechanisms for equalizing the tension on the thread andinsuring a uniformly tensioned supply of thread for the weave.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a tensioning meansof the character described provided with an auxiliary tension memberlocated between the take-up tension means and the thread carrier toinsure a substantially even and uniform feed of the thread and cause thesame to be supplied to the weave under a substantially even and. uniformdegree of tension.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an auxiliary tensionelement provided with a resiliently actuated presser member adapted tocontact with a portion of .the thread to straighten the thread andequalize the feed to the weave.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an auxiliary tensionmechanismadapted to retard the movement of the thread to the take-uptension means and thus eliminate variations in tension upon the threadas it passes into the fabric.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention relate'to variousimproved elements and combina 50' tions of elements as well as novelcombinations and arrangements of the parts as will be more fully setforth in the detailed description as follows.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 isa top plan view of a portion. of a shuttle 5 of a type commonlyemployed in the weaving of silk, rayon and other light threads.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational View of the front end portion ofthe shuttle shown in F 10 Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View, takenthrough the front end of the shuttle body, and showing one arrangementof tensioning means comprising a take-up tension means and auxiliarytension member in their operative relations 15 with each other and withthe thread as it passes from the thread carrier,

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational View of the auxiliary tensionmember substantially as it appears when viewed from the right in Fig. 3,20

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View of the auxiliary tension member,taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of the auxiliary tension member,taken substantially along 25 the line ,6-5 of Fig. 5, and, I

Fig. '7 is an end View of the auxiliary tension member, taken lookingupwardly at the structure as shown in Fig. 4.

In, the embodiment of the invention illus- 3Qv trated herewith, ldesignates a loom shuttle of a, type in common use provided with abobbin or thread carrier recess 2 in which may be positioned a spindle 3for supporting a cop or bobbin 4 having a supply of thread 5 woundthereon to 35v serve as the weft thread in the formation of a wovenfabric. A short strip or strips of fur 6 may be secured within therecess 2 and so positioned as to engage a portion of the cop or bobbin 4to serve as a drag and retard to some extent a too free movement of thethread from the cop or bobbin 4. It is to be noted, however, that theamount and extent of the retarding fur as employed in the presentconstruction, is materially less than that usually required in devicesof this 45 character by reason of the equalizing tendency of theauxiliary tension member.

The shuttle l is cut away to provide a tension chamber 8, spaced fromthe carrier recess 2, and a thread delivery eye 9 is positioned betweenand 50 serves to guide the thread or yarn from the carrier 4 to atake-up tension means located within the chamber 8.

The take-up tension means may be of any suitable or desired constructionand, in the present 55 illustrated embodiment, comprises a resilientlyheld arm 10 provided with two'or more thread receiving loops I I. Thearm 10 is pivotally mounted upon'a post I2 and normally urged towardsits retracted position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, by means of aspring or other resilient member l4, which has one end attached to thearm l8 as indicated at l5, and the opposite end thereof secured to apost IS.

A plurality of tension pins H are mounted within the chamber 8 and soarranged as to be located substantially within a common plane which isapproximately parallel with the position of the arm ||l when the arm isturned to the limit of its movement about the post |2, as is indicatedin dotted lines on Fig. 3 of the drawing. The loops I I carried by thearm H! are so arranged upon the arm as to be alternately positioned withreference to and project beyond the tension pins 1 when the arm isturned into its dotted line position, as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

A guide or supporting pin I8 is located in offset relation to the planeof the tension pins and outwardly therefrom towards the thread dischargeopening |9 of the chamber 8. The above described resiliently mountedarm, tension pins and associated parts are referred to herein as atake-up tension means, since they cooperate to provide one form oftake-up tension mechanism of a type now in common use for the purpose ofapplying take-up tension to a weft thread in a loom shuttle of thischaracter.

As herein above described, the various take-up tension means of thisgeneral character, when used alone, fail to exercise such completecontrol over the yarn or thread as to prevent the same from overrunningand whipping off the bobbin whereby insufficient tension is applied tothe thread as it passes into the fabric, and if the drag on the threadis increased to such an extent as to overcome this defect the threadfrequently fails to feed with sufficient rapidity and excessive tensionis applied.

in order to obtain the desired uniformity and evenness of tension uponthe thread, and at the same time control its supply to the weave, anauxiliary tension element 28 is positioned within the tension chamber 8and preferably located between the thread delivery eye 9 and the take-uptension means. In order to maintain the auxiliary tension member 20properly positioned with reference to the thread delivery eyeand thetakeup mechanism, as well as to permit its ready insertion within orremoval from the chamber 8, registering grooves 2| and 22 are formed inthe upper and lower faces of the chamber walls respectively which serveto provide a channel within which the auxiliary tension member 28 willfit substantially. A screw 24, or other fastening means, is employed tosecure the auxiliary tension member 29 firmly in position within theopposed grooves 2| and 22.

The auxiliary tension member comprises a pair of stationary plates 25and 21 mounted in spaced relation with each other, secured together by aconnecting plate 28, and provided with a plurality of connecting posts29. The plate 21 has its opposite side edges rounded or inclined, as at38, for a purpose which will be more fully explained hereinafter. Apresser plate 3| is mounted between the plates 26 and 21 and slidablysupported by the posts 29 for movement towards and from the plate 21.The presser plate 3| is provided with substantially parallel roundedribs 32 for engagement with the inner or contact face of the plate 21,inclined portions 33 extending outwardly from each rib 32, and a sideWall portion 34 extending from each inclined portion 33 towards theplate 26 when the parts are in assembled position.

A shouldered adjusting screw 36 has an enlarged portion threaded througha locknut 31 and into the plate 26, and a reduced portion 38 extendingtowards the plate 21 and adapted to projected through an opening 39formed in the presser plate 3|.

A coiled spring 40 is mounted upon the reduced portion of the adjustingscrew and is adapted to bear against the adjacent face of the presserplate 3| for applying tension to the presser plate. The opening 39formed in the presser plate is of such size as to admit the reducedportion 38 of the adjusting screw and permit a limited degree of angularmovement of the presser plate relative thereto while the spring 40 bearsagainst the presser plate and forces it towards the stationary plate 21.The openings formed in the presser plate 3| for receiving the posts 29are sufficiently large to permit a slight rocking movement of thepresser plate in a direction transversely of the parallel ribs 32, so asto allow a slight tilting movement of the presser plate 3| relative tothe stationary plate 21, as indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawing.

It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 3 of the drawing, that thepivoted tension arm l9 and aligned tension pins H are so arrangedrelative to each other and the auxiliary tension member The rounded orbeveled edges 30 of the plate 21 and the inclined portions 33 of thepresser plate 3| cooperate to provide means for guiding a threading hookbetween the plates 21 and 3| for passage through the thread delivery eye9 in drawing the thread through the tensioning means initially, andthese parts also serve to provide means for permitting the passage ofknots or other slight enlargements formed in the thread between theplates 3| and 21 without causingbreakage of the thread and withoutrelaxation of the tension. The side wall portions 34 of the presserplate serve both to limit its movement towards the stationary plate 26and to protect the coiled spring 49 against injury, such as from thethreading hook employed in drawing the thread through the tensionmechanism.

By extending the side walls 34 of the presser plate to a point adjacentto the plate 26, the presser plate 3| is prevented from being forced toofar from the plate 21, and the desired slight rocking or tilting of theplate 3| .in a direction transversely of the ribs 32 is insured withoutdanger of the presser plate being caught or hung up on the posts 29 asit tilts. By reason of the tilting action of the presser plate, asubstantially uniform tension is applied to the thread at all times,since, for example, when a knot or other enlarged portion of'the threadis passing under one rib 32 the presser plate tilts so that the otherrib 32 is applying tension to the thread.

When the auxiliary tension member is positioned within the chamber 8 theadjusting screw 36 is located outwardly thereof towards thechamberopening, whereby necessary adjustments in the tension may be madewithout removing the auxiliary tension member.

In passing the thread through the various tension means initially tothread the shuttle, the arm I0 is turned into its dotted line position,as shown in Fig. 3, and a threading hook is then passed through theloops l I, between the presser plate 3| and stationary plate 21 of theauxiliary tension member, and then through the thread delivery eye 9 toengage the thread 5 and draw it into threaded position between thepresser plate 3| and the stationary plate 21 and through the loops lloutwardly of the tension pins [1. The threading of the entire tensionmechanism is therefore accomplished in a single operation.

It will be noted that by positioning the auxiliary tension memberbetween the take-up tension and the thread delivery eye, the auxiliarytension member acts as an equalizer on the thread to check the slackcaused by whipping of the thread off the bobbin and thus permit thetakeup tension to take up the slack of the thread in the shed of theloom instead of taking up the slack of the thread from the bobbin orthread carrier. The location of the auxiliary tension member is such asto permit its ready insertion or the removal from the grooves 2| and 22where it is held in place by the holding screw 24.

It will be understood that through the use of the auxiliary tensionmember a very loose winding may be employed upon the cop or bobbin sincethe overrunning tendency of the thread is substantially entirelyeliminated, and that a considerably less degree of drag, such as isusually accomplished by placing large quantities of fur in the carrierrecess, is necessary upon the thread as it comes from the bobbin sincethe pull on the thread due to the movement of the shuttle is renderedmore uniform.

The auxiliary tension member may be employed with any type of thread andreadily adjusted to equalize the tension, and at the same time theprovision of the parallel ribs 32 bearing against the contact surface ofthe plate 21 serves to remove to a considerable degree any bends whichmay be present in the thread, while at the same time permitting thepassage of knots or other enlarged portions without breakage of thethread or the application of excessive tension.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a thread tension meanscomprising a fixed plate member having a uniform thread engaging surfaceand a movable member provided with projecting thread engaging surfacesspaced from each other longitudinally of the direction of travel of thethread for engagement with the thread at spaced points longitudinally ofthe thread as the thread is passed between said members, spaced meanssupporting said movable member for bodily movement towards and from saidfixed member or limited rocking movement relative thereto in a planelocated at substantially right angles with the thread engaging surfaceof the fixed member and in the direction of the path of travel of thethread, means resiliently engaging said movable member to force the sametowards said fixed plate member and into yielding engagement with thethread, and means independent of said spaced supporting means forsupporting said resilient means in operative position relative to saidmovable member.

2. In a loom shuttle, a thread tension means comprising a stationaryplate member having a substantially uniform thread engaging surfaceangularly positioned relative to the axis of the thread carrying member,a movable member mounted for movement towards and from the threadengaging surface of said stationary member and rocking movement in adefinite fixed plane relative thereto, said movable member beingprovided with ribs located in opposed relation with the thread engagingsurface of said stationary member and spaced from each other in thedirection of the path of travel of the thread, plural means for guidingsaid movable member in its movement towards and from the stationarymember and for limiting the extent of its rocking movement relativethereto, means yieldably urging said movable member towards saidstationary member, and means independent of said movable member guidingmeans supporting said resilient means in position for its operativeengagement with said movable member at a point intermediate of saidribs.

3. In a thread tension device, a stationary member provided with auniform thread contact surface, a movable member provided with spacedcontact portions located in opposed relation with the contact surface ofsaid stationary member and spaced from each other in a direction1ongitudinally of the path of travel of the thread across the contactsurface of the stationary member, a plurality of guide means for saidmovable member permitting straight line rectilinear movement of saidmovable member towards and from said stationary member and rockingmovement of the same only in a direction substantially parallel with thepath of travel of the thread, resilient means urging said movable membertowards the contact surface of said stationary member, and supportingmeans for said resilient means so positioned as torender the resilientmeans effective upon the movable member at a point substantially midwaybetween the contact portions of said movable member.

4. In a loom shuttle structure, a thread carriermember, a threaddelivery eye having its axis substantially parallel with the axis ofsaid thread carrier member, a tension chamber located outwardly of thethread delivery eye and provided with a tension member receiving channellocated angularly with relation-to the axis of said thread delivery eye,a thread tensioning member positioned within said channel and providedwith a stationary contact plate and a movable contact plate located inopposed relation with each other for receiving therebetween a threadfrom said thread delivery eye, the thread engaging surface of saidstationary contact plate being angularly positioned relative to the axisof said thread delivery eye, a take-up means located in said tensionchamber and operable independently of said tension means and sopositioned that in the threading position of its parts the threadreceived therein will be located at an angle to the axis of the threadeye and substantially within the plane of the thread receiving surfaceof said stationary contact plate, whereby threading of the separatetensioning means may be effected at a single operation, and resilientmeans urging said movable contact plate towards said fixed contact plateto impart tension to the thread.

WALTER HAMPSON.

